Israel has carried out an airstrike on a residential area near the Syrian capital city of Damascus, reportedly killing a high ranking member of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

According to local media reports, Samir Quntar (also Kuntar) was killed during the Israeli raid which targeted his home in the city of Jaramana located 10 kilometers from the capital in the Rif Dimashq governorate early on Sunday.

Following the attack, Quntar’s brother wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that his brother was a martyr without giving more details about his death.

"With pride we mourn the martyrdom of the leader Samir Quntar and we are honored to join families of martyrs," Bassam Quntar said on his Facebook page.

Quntar was released from an Israeli prison during a prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel in 2008 after serving 29 years in detention.